Why Faith Kipyegon Believes Kenya’s Bid to Host 2029, 2031 World Championships Could Elevate Track and Field in Country

Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has voiced her strong support for Kenya’s historic bid to host the 2029 or 2031 World Athletics Championships, describing it as a transformative opportunity that could elevate the nation’s sports infrastructure and inspire a new generation of athletes.

Speaking before she made history at the 2025 New York Athlos Diamond League meeting, Kipyegon acknowledged the immense talent within Kenya and across Africa but emphasised the challenges that athletes continue to face due to limited access to training facilities.

“It’s really difficult, but we try to use what’s available,” said Kipyegon on CITIUS Mag. “When I was preparing for the sub-four-minute mile challenge, I trained on a murram surface. It was tough, but we made it work.”

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

The 1500m  world record holder urged the Kenyan government to continue investing in facilities and modern training centres, noting that such improvements would not only aid elite athletes but also benefit future generations.

“I always urge our government to improve sports facilities—especially training tracks and stadiums—because we’re also bidding to host the 2029 World Championships. We hope they’ll make corrections and ensure we have beautiful, world-class venues.”

Kenya has officially submitted its bid to host the World Athletics Championships in 2029 or 2031 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, marking a historic attempt to bring the global showpiece to African soil for the first time.

Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Hon. Salim Mvurya, confirmed that Kenya had begun pre-qualification procedures with World Athletics, joining contenders such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Ethiopia, South Korea, and India.

“This bid is supported at the highest level of government,” said Mvurya in a statement. “It reflects President William Ruto’s vision to position Kenya as a global sporting powerhouse. This is a national project, and our commitment is absolute.”

Mvurya highlighted major renovations at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium, including new synthetic running tracks and modernised facilities.

“The refurbishments are not just about facilities—they are about creating a modern sports ecosystem,” said Mvurya. “Kenya is positioning itself to deliver venues that meet and even exceed global standards.”

The government also pointed to the successful hosting of CHAN 2024 as evidence of Kenya’s readiness to stage world-class competitions.